Flood Warning Issued for Newaukum River Near Chehalis in Lewis County

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Seattle WA has issued a Flood Warning for the Newaukum River near Chehalis. This alert is a re-issuance of a previous warning, updated with the latest river stage information. The warning remains in effect until 9:09 PM PDT on Saturday, March 14.

Affected Areas

The primary area affected is Lewis County, specifically regions along the Newaukum River near Chehalis and its forks. Impacted roadways and surrounding areas include:

• Jackson Hwy
• Tune, Rush, Sommerville, Griel, Hamilton, Tauscher, and Guerrier Roads
• Kirkland, Macomber, Rice, Senn, and Lucas Creek Roads
• Middle Fork and North Fork Roads

What You Should Do

Residents and motorists are advised to take the following precautions:

• Turn around, don’t drown: Never attempt to drive through flooded areas or around barricades. Most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles.
• Exercise caution at night: It is significantly harder to recognize the dangers of flooding in the dark.
• Avoidance: Stay away from riverbanks and inundated residential or commercial areas.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is currently occurring and is forecast to continue. At a stage of 202.5 feet, flood waters begin to inundate roads and commercial zones. As of 9:45 PM PDT Friday, the river stage was measured at 203.9 feet. The river is expected to rise to a crest of 204.1 feet late this evening. This level corresponds to Phase 2 in the Lewis County flood system.

Timeline

• Effective Period: The warning is active from Friday evening through 9:09 PM PDT Saturday.
• Crest Timing: The river is expected to reach its peak of 204.1 feet late Friday night.
• Recession: Water levels are forecast to fall below the 202.5-foot flood stage by early Saturday afternoon.